A collaborative research effort between researchers at MCTP, University of Michigan Thoracic Surgery Cancer Biology Laboratory, and the National Center for Integrative Bioinformatics has resulted in the development of the Concept Signature Score (ConSig), a mathematical algorithm that indicates the probability that a gene may be a "driving" gene fusion that underlies the development of cancer.  Under the leadership of MCTP’s Dr. Xiasong Wang, researchers performed genetic analysis of lung cancer cells grown in the laboratory and identified a gene fusion, R3HDM2-NFE2, linked to invasion and cell proliferation.

New analytical methods such as these may increase our understanding of the early events leading to  cancer development, opening the doorway for the development of new targeted therapies that are based upon specific genetic abnormalities.

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Scientists may click here to link to the Nature abstract about ConSig

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      Dr. Xiasong Wang, MCTP Research Fellow